author(s)
Gurlaz Kaur and KS Sangha

abstract
India is the largest producer and exporter of chilli (Capsicum annuum) in the world and attack of insect pests is a major constraint in its production. Arthropod population was recorded weekly during kharif 2013 at Bharti Field Fresh Farm, Ladhowal, Ludhiana and during rabi 2014 at Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Research Farm, PAU, Ludhiana. Primary goal of this study was to record the arthropod fauna associated with the chilli agroecosystem and to identify the insect and mite pests among them. Forty one arthropod species were found to be associated with the chilli crop among which fourteen species were each of pests and natural enemies, twelve species of casual visitors and one species of pollinator. Order Coleoptera occupied the maximum share (26.83%) in arthropod fauna recorded on chilli ecosystem. The results of diversity indices represented a highly diverse arthropod fauna which was evenly distributed and without dominance of any species during both the seasons.